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The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice on a public interest litigation seeking hostel facilities in all the colleges being run by the Delhi University in the national capital.

The PIL has been filed in the wake of an incident wherein a five-storeyed PG or hostel building collapsed at city's Satya Niketan area on Sunday.

The collapse has reportedly resulted in multiple deaths and injuries to students.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia sought response of the Union Government, Delhi Government and Delhi University.

It however questioned the naming of University Grants Commission (UGC) as a respondent party and directed that the same be deleted from array of parties.

Observing that PIL is a very serious business, the Court directed the petitioner- Vinor Jhakar's counsel, to file amended memo of parties within a week.

The plea will now be heard on September 25, when another PIL on same incident has been listed.

Jhakar has sought directions on authorities to undertake a comprehensive college-wise assessment of the existing hostel capacity and residential requirements of students of the University of Delhi. 

It further seeks formulation and implementation of a time-bound Hostel Development Policy or Master Plan for establishment and expansion of adequate, safe and affordable institutional hostel facilities for students.

The plea also seeks a direction on authorities to consider construction or expansion of hostels in colleges having available land and, where individual colleges face genuine land constraints, common or cluster hostels be established on suitable Government or University land for students of neighbouring colleges.

The building owner Hariram Gupta and his wife have been remanded to judicial custody whereas their son has been sent to two days of police custody.

As per Delhi Police, the electricity connection was in Hariram's name. It has been alleged that Mahesh was handling the management work and the property, on paper, was in the name of Hariram's wife, Urmila.

The building, which housed a boys' paying guest accommodation near Delhi University's South Campus, collapsed around 1.30 pm while repair work was underway at its basement. Locals alleged the basement was waterlogged that could have weakened the structure.

The Delhi Police has registered a case against the three at the South Campus Police Station. They have been booked on charges including culpable homicide, negligence in the upkeep of a structure and endangering the safety of others.

The High Court yesterday asked the authorities to double their efforts to save the lives of students affected by the collapse.

It has directed the MCD to take up the issue at its highest executive level and get an enquiry conducted as to whether the buildings which collapsed were constructed under valid permission or not.

The High Court has also said that if it is found that the construction was not done under valid permission, MCD shall fix responsibility of the erring official or employees for the lapse.

Title: Vinod Jhakar v. Union of India & Ors

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